Trending Stories

Going the Extra Mile for Education

SCE_1863

SCE and Edison International employees, family and friends get ready at last year’s UNCF Los Angeles Walk for Education in Los Angeles. Thousands of dollars were raised to help financially disadvantaged students go to colleges and universities across the country.

SCE and Edison International employees, family and friends get ready at last year’s UNCF Los Angeles Walk for Education in Los Angeles. Thousands of dollars were raised to help financially disadvantaged students go to colleges and universities across the country.

Dominique Jordan grew up in L.A.’s tough inner city and was raised along with his younger sister by his mom, a single parent working multiple jobs sometimes to make ends meet.

Statistically, the odds were against him.

However, at Verbum Dei High School, Dominique got involved in business, excelled academically and interned at Merrill Lynch for more than four years. When he graduated from high school, he was awarded a Gates Millennium Scholarship, administered by the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), giving Dominique a full ride to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. There, he majored in Finance and Management, graduating in 2013.

“I probably wouldn’t be here without the UNCF, Gates, Georgetown and the people who introduced me to Gates my freshman year (of high school),” said Dominique, 24, now a licensed investment adviser for Morgan Stanley in Los Angeles.

On Saturday, Aug. 15, Southern California Edison’s Networkers Resource Employee Group will sponsor the UNCF Los Angeles Walk for Education at Exposition Park to help more low-income students attend college and graduate like Dominique.

Dominique himself has created a non-profit geared toward minorities in high school to teach them about finances, long-term savings and goal-setting, and providing them with scholarships so they too can go to college.

“I was given an opportunity and took it,” he said. “I’m trying to extend it to others.”

Since it was founded in 1944, UNCF, the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization has raised more than $3.6 billion to help more than 400,000 students receive scholarships and college degrees from UNCF member institutions. Each year, the UNCF helps more than 60,000 students with financial support at over 900 colleges and universities across the U.S.

“Southern California Edison is a wonderful testament to what we’re doing, helping diverse students go to college,” said Carolyn Trader, development director, UNCF Los Angeles Chapter.

“Without partnerships and support from corporations, from these corporate dollars all the way to their employees that participate in events such as the walk for education, all those dollars add up and make a significant difference.”

SCE employees, colleagues, family members and friends are invited to participate in this signature event. Participants are encouraged to join in the fun and represent the company, wearing SCE’s traditional green T-shirts, which also will be provided at the event.

“We want as many people as possible to come out and participate,” said Marliss Gordon, president of The Networkers. “Through these contributions, this organization supports education and helps fuel the potential and the aspirations of so many amazing young people with bright futures that need help realizing their dreams.”

In addition to walking, there will be a kiddie play area with activities for children of all ages to enjoy and lunch will be provided following the walk/run.